Pyrotechnic device



Sept. 18, 1934. J. 4B. DEckER ET AL.

PYROTECHNIC DEVICE Filed March 22. 1932 Max-mae' oF l RARE EARTH METALDI! ALLOY AND.

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Patented Sept. 18, v193,4

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application Meren zz, im, semi No. comm isclaimt. (cl. zz4) V;

This invention relates to fulminating pyrotechnic devices, and itsobject is the provision of an improved toy torpedo characterized by aloud detonation accompanied by a brilliant ilash 5 which may, ifdesired, be of different colors and interspersed with scintillatingparticles or stars.

A more specic lobject of the invention is the provision of, a toytorpedo employing. as the fulminating composition,l one or more of thegroup of elements hereinafter enumerated from the periodic group IVAand, certain rare earth metals, in comminuted state, in mixture with anoxidizing agent.

Still another object of the invention is the inclusion in thefulminating composition of an-ingredient imparting color to the flash.

A further object of the invention is the control of the neness ofcomminution of the particles of the metal whereby, using a relativelycoarse mesh, combustion of the particles is not instantaneous so thatscintillating stars are thrown out into the iield of the flash.

Another object of the invention is to increase the factor of safety inthe manufacture and transportation of toy torpedoes.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the following descriptionof a preferred and practica.1 embodiment of the invention proceeds. Inthe drawing' which forms a part of the following specication, Figure 1is a diametrical section through a torpedo embodying the principles ofthe invention; Figure 2 is a similar view showing the torpedo exploding.y In known processes for manufacturing toy Y torpedoes, an intimatemixture of potassium chlorate, antimony disuliid and sulphur in properproportions is ordinarily employed as the fulminating agent, the samebeing mixed with abrasive granules such as pebbles, and

enclosed in a shell or other gas confining container. l While suchtorpedoes are satisfactory 'with respect to the intensity of thedetonation, they are not spectacular as to flash, nor are they amenableto'coloration of the ash since the proportions in which the fulrninatingingredients are sensitive to impact are rather critical, and theaddition vof a color ingredient to the mixture in any practicalproportions, adulterates it sufficiently to impair or destroy itssensitivity to fulmination.

The ordinary potassium chlorate, antimony ydisuliied, sulphurcomposition must be thoroughly mixed to obtain the essential degree ofsensitivity but then the sensitivity is such that accidental explosionsoccasionally o ccur both in manufacture, and transportationnotwithstanding the special packaging that is resorted to for theprevention of suchcalamities.

It was in the quest of a safer toy torpedov that the present inventionwas evolved, in which not only has a safer torpedo been produced, butone-capable of a variety of spectacular effects which were not possiblewith the ordinary torpedo.

It has been found that certain members of the group of rare earth metalsas well as certain elements of the periodic group IVA, oi whichzirconium. titanium, thorium, yttrium, seleniumare examples, or alloysof these metals, are particularly adapted for use as the reducing factorof a fulminating composition,\in mixture with an oxidizing agent, ofwhich substances, there is a wide range of availables, such for exampleas potassium nitrate, barium nitrate, oxalates, trlnitro compounds,chlorates, and perchlorates.

From this group may be selected an oxident particularly adapted tocooperate with the metal or alloy of the same which may have beenadopted as the reducing element. v

For example, one may select comminuted zirconium in the metallic state.This when mixed with barium nitrate in the ratio of two to three partsby weight, gives a fulminating composition which is notably stable inthe process of mixingand also safe in transportation, particul larlywhen the pebbles are agglomerated into a unitary mass which isdisruptable only at a definite impact value, as covered in the appli- 9ocation of Joseph B. Decker, Serial No. 591,213, filed February 5, 1932.

It is characteristic of the ingredients of this fulminating composition,that the zirconium or other of the aforementioned metals or alloys ofthe same enhances the sensitivity of the oxident se that the latter mayin itself be inert to impact, but be endowed with any desired value ofsensitivity, by controlling the proportions of the rare earth metal oralloy.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 1 represents thetorpedo, having a shell 2 forming a gas confining chamber in which ispacked a mixture 4 of one of the detonating substances disclosed in thespeciflcation such for example as zirconium, the same being interspersedwith a mass of pebbles 3 producing the friction when shocked whichdetonates the torpedo.

In manufactming the improved torpedo, the

substantially two parts to three parts byzweight are mixed, and in viewof the controlled sensi' v tivity, they may be mixed in large quantitywith impunity. The torpedo is made in the usualv manner by mixing anappropriatecharge of the v yfulrninating compositionv with pebbles andloading the same into a gas confining container, vor.

the ma'ss of gravel may be first agglomerated minating mixture.

It has beenvfound that the additionof -color producing ingredients tothe mixture of the said v metals or alloys and appropriate oxidants, in,quantitysuiiicient to give satisfactory color effect Since'bariumnitrate gives'a green fiash, vit 'isv not necessary to add anotheringredient tov produce this color, the bariumnitrate. functioning bothas the oxidizing element and the color producing ingredient in mixturewith the zirconium. The zirconium or equivalent metal or alloy being thereducing agent or fuel, vgives a bril- ?-O liance to the ash hithertounobtainable vin ful-' 'minating orcombustible lightproducingcompositions'inv vwhich vthe rare earth metalor alloy may have playedany other role'.

.Y In producingashes of other colors than green,v

Sait is preferred tov select vanl oxidant whichproso. that the color ofthe added ingredient will vremain pure" and uncontaminated with anycolori native to the basic flash. The perchlorates arey i5-particularlyadapted for oxidizing agents of the saidvmetals and alloys vwhen 'colorproducing .ingredients are to be added, both by reason of the whitenessof the basic flame, and because the chlorine ions freed in the reactionvivify the 4&5. flash, increasing its brilliancy. Moreover, a greatervolume of gas is released than with other oxidants, thereby extendingthe field of the flash. The following are examples of fulminatingmixtures producing iiashes having particular color effects:

scintillating particles or stars in the ash y are obtained bycontrolling the size of the com- 7-0- minution of the particles ofthemetal which may have been selected as the reducing and detonative agent.By making these sufficiently coarse, their combustion is notinstantaneous but continues as they are thrown out into the field offlash from the focus of the explosion, Each in the manner previouslysuggested, and the in. terstices between the pebbleslled with theful-yportation of torpedoes has been increased.

gas confining chamber containing a mixture of duces an inherently whitevor vuncolored flamev vzirconiumandv bariumv nitrate in proportions of.

metal and metallic alloy appears to have a characteristic mannerofcombustiomand therefore,

tc give a definite characteristic visual effect vin, tht Spark. Forinstance, the zirconium star apvpears'to bef an incandescentarea 'ofamoeba-.- 80.

shaped contour as indicated aty 5 vFigure y2,

-A modified form results from the combustion of produced a vnew andvyimproved toytorpedo 'in' i f which spectacular effects both as tointensity of flash and colorl of -fiash as. well as the presence ofscintillating stars are made to accompany the .9g detonation, throughthe use ofmrare earth metals and alloys of lthe same as reducing agents,in mixture with oxidizing compounds', and that the factor of safety inthe manufacture and transvIt is to be understoodv .thatv While We vhavespecified the-fulminating composition as being formed with Aingredientsin different proportions, it isto be vunderstood that vthese proper--tions may be l.gvariedsubstantially without departingfrom -t-ie spiritof the invention and that the examples included vinthe foregoingspecification are to be regarded as illustrative and@v not as-limitativein their bearing upon the scope vof the vinventionwhich vis'to bedeterminedjby 105 the claims appended hereto.

.What we claim is:

1. vPyrotechnic devicev capable of detonating upon concussion,comprising meansv forming a' an element selected from thefollowinggroup:- zirconium, titanium, thorium, vryttrium, 's'eleniinmv with anoxidizing agent.

v2.v vPyroteclmic' devicel capable of detonating upon concussioncomprising meansformingv a v v gas confining chamber containing abrasivematerial and a mixture of an element selected from the following group:zirconium, titanium, thorium, yttrium, selenium, with an oxidizingagent. 1

3. Pyrotechnic device capable of detonating upon concussion comprisingmeans forming a gas confining chamber containing a mixture of anoxidizing agent, with a sensitivity accelerating proportion of anelement selected from the following group: zirconium, titanium, thorium,yttrium, selenium.

4. Pyrotechnic device capable of detonating upon concussioncomprisingmeans forming a gas. confining chamber, containing abrasive material anda mixture of oxidizing agent-with an element selected from the followinggroup: zirconium, titanium, thorium, yttrium, selenium in the ratio ofsubstantially three to two.

5. Pyrotechnic device capable of detonating upon concussion comprisingmeans forming a gas confining chamber, containing a mixture of anelement selected from the following group: zirconium, titanium, thorium,yttrium, selenium, with an oxidizing agent, and a color impartingingredient in such proportion as to give a decided color to the fiasheventuating from the detonation of said mixture.

6. Pyrotechnic device capable of detonating upon concussion comprisingmeans forming a gas confining chamber containing a mixture ofan elementselected from the following group: zirconium, titanium, thorium,yttrium, selenium, with-an oxidizing agent, the said element beingomminuted with such degree of coarseness as 150 Y the ratio of thezirconium to the oxidizing agent zirconium, a perchlorate, and a toproduce stars in the flash eventuating from the detonation of saidmixture.

7. Pyrotechnic device capable of detonating upon concussion comprisingmeans forming a gas confining chamber, an abrasive material in saidchamber and a mixture of comminuted zirconium in metallic state with anoxidizing agent. 8. Pyrotechnic device as claimed in claim 7, the ratioof the zirconium to the oxidizing agent being substantially as three totwo.

9. Pyrotechnic device as claimed in claim 7,

being substantially as three to two, and the zirconium being comminutedto Such degree of coarseness as to produce stars in the flasheventuating from the detonation of the mixture.

10. Pyrotechnic device capable of detonating upon concussion comprisingmeans forming a gas confining chamber, containing a mixture of olor'imparting ingredient, the latter being in uch proportion to give adecided color to the sh eventuating from the detonation 'of saidmixture, the perchlorate functioning as an oxidizing agent.

11. Pyrotechnic device with fulminating characteristic comprising meansforming a gas conining chamber, containing a mixture of zirconium, aperchlorate, and a color producing ingredient, the perchloratefunctioning as an oxidizing agent, and the zirconium being comminuted toa degree of coarseness producing stars in the field of the asheventuating from the detonation of said mixture.

12. Pyrotechnic device capable of detonating

